Apple CEO Tim Cook surprises Orlando teen, WWDC 2019 scholarship winner

Apple CEO Tim Cook sits with Lyman High School sophomore Liam Rosenfeld, 16, during a visit to the Apple Store at the Mall at Millenia, on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. (Courtesy: Apple)

When Liam Rosenfeld walked into an Apple Store at Orlando's Mall at Millenia, he may have noticed the place was particularly busy for a Tuesday.

As the 16-year-old Lyman High School sophomore made his way through a crowd of employees and customers, he suddenly saw Apple CEO Tim Cook standing in front of him.

Cook was in town to speak at SAP’s annual SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference. He took some time to visit with Liam, the recipient of a scholarship to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, Calif., which starts June 3.

“I was not expecting that at all,” Liam told the Orlando Sentinel. “It was such an amazing surprise.”

Cook tweeted about the encounter later in the day:

 

The WWDC showcases Apple's latest software and new technologies for software developers. Students are an integral part of the Apple developer community, and last year's WWDC saw attendance from student developers spanning 41 different countries, Apple says.

Up to 350 WWDC scholarships were made available this year, providing students and members of all STEM organizations an opportunity to earn a free ticket and lodging for WWDC, according to the company's website.